In April, I visited the Portland Art Museum in an effort to find some inspiration for the novel-writing course I was on. I was delighted to find an exhibition exploring the life's work of Oscar Howe, one of the most twentieth century’s most innovative Native American painters. Howe, a Yanktonai Indian, was a rebel in the art world, bringing a unique modernist style to portrayals of his heritage.
One of Howe's recurring subjects was the Sun Dance, a ritual that takes place during the summer and involves prayer, drumming, and dancing. Participants dance for four days, reconnecting with their ancestors and the earth, forgoing food or water.
I’m no art historian, and certainly don’t claim to get art, despite my enthusiasm. But Howe’s Sun Dance paintings have had a profound effect on me. Bear with my amateur analysis, while I take you through four of Howe’s Sun Dance paintings.
Early days
This is one of Howe's earliest preserved works from the mid-1930s, when he was still in high school. The painting depicts four sun dancers in a grass enclosure, with careful attention to accuracy in their clothing and proportions.